When is Burning Crusade scheduled to be released?

[nosoup4crr]

And, if anyone is in "the know," based on progress, are there any major delays expected?

[Hollen]

Well, Blizz havn't set a real ETA yet, but I have this e-mail from the british company I preordered TBC from, and altough people say not to trust games retailers, I've had emails like these before, and thier release dates were bang on the nose, so...

Dear Miss McIvor

Thank you for the following order placed with GAME.

Order number(s):
00848908/P

As you may already be aware, the UK release date for World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade has changed to 11-Nov-2006. Changes to release dates are relatively common in the videogames industry and are unfortunately beyond our control.

Don't worry, your order is still live and will be despatched prior to its release date via your chosen method of delivery.

Regards,
GAME

[Dynatos]

The last Blue post I saw regarding the topic (from a week or 2 ago) said "Q4 2006". Sometime between October and December, based on that projection.

If they are planning on getting it out in Q4 2006, expect it no later than the end of November as to not have it out in time for Christmas is poor business practice.

If they don't have it out, or haven't announced an official date, by mid-November, then don't expect it until February, 2007 at the earliest.

[zkajan]

nothing offical has been announced, you'll know it when everyone else does too

[Mir]

I could see it being rolled out around the holiday time. Maybe late November or early December. It would make good business sense considering people seem to toss a little more money around during those times.:wink:

[Magikhat]

was listed on eb website as 11/28/06

[rgirty]

I have no official knowledge, but I cannot think it will be delayed much longer than mid november. Common sense, and with the release of the talents lately makes you think they are fairly close to release. 8 weeks, or two months from now seems a very very valid release date.

[Leviathonlx]

Seems like closed beta will be soon and it won't be nearly as long as the current games beta was. Depending on when the beta begins we could see the game released late October to mid November.

[det]

Was that indeed "Q4 2006" or "winter" ? As...winter ends in March 2007....technically....

[Leviathonlx]

Was that indeed "Q4 2006" or "winter" ? As...winter ends in March 2007....technically....

They said Q4.

[GlowSticky]

Christmas holiday season is the logical choice to be made in order to maximize sales and profit. Sometime late November and early December would allow Blizz to troubleshoot server stability and bugs.

[Steamboat]

Since Blizzard is first and foremost a business (and businesses are in business to make money) I'd be willing to bet that it will be released by November, to catch the holiday sales.

In fact I'm guessing that the devs won't even get to put as much of a "polish" on it as they'd like to, and will be forced by the people running the business side to release a version that is slightly buggy, and missing some content. Then we'll see heavy patches through January to fix the bugs and add the content.

[Hollen]

I keep hearing the words "alpha," "open beta," "closed beta..." can somebody explain these to me?

[Valas Azuviir]

I keep hearing the words "alpha," "open beta," "closed beta..." can somebody explain these to me?

Alpha and Beta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_stage#Alpha). The difference between Closed and Open Beta has to do with the latter being open to everyone who can dl a client essentially, whereas with the former it's invitation only.

[SSBarbarian]

Hi all! I live in So Cali., near Blizz HQ. When WoW was first released, there was a big "To Do" at the local Warehouse Electronic's store (Fry's), complete with the developers, doing a signing! It was released on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Biggest Shopping Day of the Year). It was a full-blown media event, and there were rumors it sold out in a few hours!

So, if i was to hazzard a guess, eat your turkey, hop on a Red-Eye, and get in line at Fry's for a piece of Blizz history!

[Blaizze]

I'd also guess in time for the xmas shopping rush.
We know how much Blizz like their money.

[Your Average WoW Player]

To be perfectly honest, no one has any idea. The companies are throwing up dates because they want people to start pre-ordering so they get cash and other money things. I wold only trust the dates that are given off by blizzard.

[wolfbane]

I stopped believing in release dates a good while before the companies themselves started going the 3D Realms route and simply saying "when it's done". I'll believe the date when I get a note in the mail saying I can pick up my copy of BC at the store I ordered it from.

[Timmyraciti]

cant wait for burning crusade looks awsome

pretty gay how they are always change the date i reckon we should all pre order because it will always sale out for like months till the hype gos down of buring crusade :D camping out for it wont sleep for a couple days take days off work to just start playing it :D

[Wintrow]

Yep, when it's done... No sooner :)

[silkfire]

November the 31st, i'm very certain

[wolfbane]

Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets! =)

[xmuskrat]

Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets! =)

November 14

[Hollen]

November 11th

[WatcherZero]

Financial Q4, blizz will cheat and say they didnt say calendar Q4

[Lamer]

Financial Q4, blizz will cheat and say they didnt say calendar Q4

Seems like a Blizzard thing to do, tbh.

[degrotebeurt]

the burning crusade is expected to be realesed in holland on november 15th whel at least thats what my computer shop says i ordered 2 o.O
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[Dynatos]

the burning crusade is expected to be realesed in holland on november 15th whel at least thats what my computer shop says i ordered 2 o.O
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That's what your computer store estimates. Blizzard has not specified an exact date yet.

I spoke with the salesman at the local EB Games. Their projection has changed to December 15th.

[degrotebeurt]

i just looked and
dyanabyte changed it to 1th of december
free record shop is on 16th of november

im getting confused:S

[Gealach]

The reason why store estimates get perceived as being at all accurate is because they change based on what they believe to be the case. Every retailer I know who has had the expansion available for preorder has changed that estimate at least 4 times, and some as many as 6.

Will they change it yet again? Your guess is as good as mine. But I do not see it coming out before late november unless Blizzard works a miracle. Apparently some stores have come to that same conclusion but they did it the same way I did: look at when alpha and beta testing began, look at what testers are saying, and throw your dart.

[Dynatos]

i just looked and
dyanabyte changed it to 1th of december
free record shop is on 16th of november

im getting confused:S


Why?

Do you not unserstand the concept of a projected or estimated release date?

Blizzard has not specified a release date. The last time I heard them mention anything about a date, they said something along the lines of "when it's ready, but hopefully in time for the holidays".

The various stores that will be stocking the game look at claims like that, look at where along the game is in the development process, and then estimate a date when they think the game may be released.


Until you see a news post on www.worldofwarcraft.com specifying a release date, don't hold your breath.

[Your Average WoW Player]

Blizzy has not been one to set a release date several months in advance, then start biting their nails off as said release date comes closer because the game is far from finished. They slap an estimate (Q4 etc.) then post the actual when they are confident they can get it out with MOST of the major kinks ironed out.

They don't say in March "OHHHHHHHHH IT'LL BE OUT ON NOVEMBER 24TH!!!"

Then on November 6th, the game is glaring with major kinks and bugs that they couldn't possible erase by the 24th, But because they've already said that date, they have to deliever the game, half-baked and buggy, or delay the release, which is kinda bad.